Gabriella Karin

Born in Czechoslovakia, Gabriella was only eight years old when World War II started. During the war she was put in a convent with papers that made her Christian. Though she learned all the Christian prayers and went to Mass everyday, deep down she knew she was a Jewish girl and cried herself to sleep every night. Three years went by and the war was getting worse, so her mother retrieved her from school and went into complete hiding. For nine months, she and her parents, along with five other people, hid in a young lawyer’s one-bedroom apartment in the center of Bratislava. They were not able to speak or move around freely, so Gabriella read everything she could get her hands on. After liberation, she jumped a school grade as a result of her self-study. Gabriella went on to become a fashion designer, then moved to Los Angeles with her family. Upon retirement, she went back to school and started making beautiful sculptures inspired by her Holocaust experiences. Today, she continues to create art, and speaks all over the world to different groups of people sharing her life and experiences. She constantly reminds her audiences that, even though everything could be taken away from them, even the clothes they wear, no one could take away what they have in their heads. Location: Los Angeles, CA. Gabriella’s message for the world: “It doesn’t matter the color of skin you have, the color of eyes you have, or the color of hair you have, we are all the same people. We don’t have to love everybody, but we have to respect. Respect every person on this earth. We all have the right to be here.”
Abstract/Description: Born in Czechoslovakia, Gabriella was only eight years old when World War II started. During the war she was put in a convent with papers that made her Christian. Though she learned all the Christian prayers and went to Mass everyday, deep down she knew she was a Jewish girl and cried herself to sleep every night. Three years went by and the war was getting worse, so her mother retrieved her from school and went into complete hiding. For nine months, she and her parents, along with five other people, hid in a young lawyer’s one-bedroom apartment in the center of Bratislava. They were not able to speak or move around freely, so Gabriella read everything she could get her hands on. After liberation, she jumped a school grade as a result of her self-study. Gabriella went on to become a fashion designer, then moved to Los Angeles with her family. Upon retirement, she went back to school and started making beautiful sculptures inspired by her Holocaust experiences. Today, she continues to create art, and speaks all over the world to different groups of people sharing her life and experiences. She constantly reminds her audiences that, even though everything could be taken away from them, even the clothes they wear, no one could take away what they have in their heads. Location: Los Angeles, CA. Gabriella’s message for the world: “It doesn’t matter the color of skin you have, the color of eyes you have, or the color of hair you have, we are all the same people. We don’t have to love everybody, but we have to respect. Respect every person on this earth. We all have the right to be here.”
Subject(s): Sculpture
Karin, Gabriella
Los Angeles (Calif.)
2011-2020
Portraits
Title: Gabriella Karin.
Name(s): Lin, Charlice, photographer
Type of Resource: still image
Other Date: 2017-10-06
Abstract/Description: Born in Czechoslovakia, Gabriella was only eight years old when World War II started. During the war she was put in a convent with papers that made her Christian. Though she learned all the Christian prayers and went to Mass everyday, deep down she knew she was a Jewish girl and cried herself to sleep every night. Three years went by and the war was getting worse, so her mother retrieved her from school and went into complete hiding. For nine months, she and her parents, along with five other people, hid in a young lawyer’s one-bedroom apartment in the center of Bratislava. They were not able to speak or move around freely, so Gabriella read everything she could get her hands on. After liberation, she jumped a school grade as a result of her self-study. Gabriella went on to become a fashion designer, then moved to Los Angeles with her family. Upon retirement, she went back to school and started making beautiful sculptures inspired by her Holocaust experiences. Today, she continues to create art, and speaks all over the world to different groups of people sharing her life and experiences. She constantly reminds her audiences that, even though everything could be taken away from them, even the clothes they wear, no one could take away what they have in their heads. Location: Los Angeles, CA. Gabriella’s message for the world: “It doesn’t matter the color of skin you have, the color of eyes you have, or the color of hair you have, we are all the same people. We don’t have to love everybody, but we have to respect. Respect every person on this earth. We all have the right to be here.”
Identifier(s): 000043091_43.jpg (Local)
Subject(s): Sculpture
Karin, Gabriella
Los Angeles (Calif.)
2011-2020
Portraits
Held by: Palos Verdes Library District. Peninsula Center Library
Location: Local History Center
Restrictions on Access: Electronically held by the Palos Verdes Library District. Copyright status must be investigated before publishing or commercial use. To obtain permission and images for publication purposes please contact the Palos Verdes Library District.
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